Sanitary removable liner for vessels



June 5, 1934. J. B. HERNDO'N, JR.,l Er'AL 1,961,360

SANITARY REMOVABLE vLINER OR VESSELS Filed Sept.. 10, 1932 *FT'` li'Hq/Ie Girl Wieen Gem Hef-nmd Patented June 5, 1934 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE James B. Herndon, Jr., David Hope, and Carl W. Steen,Dallas, Tex.

Application September 10, 19.32, Serial No. 632,496

1 Claim.

'Ihis invention relates to a new article of manufacture embodyingcertain new and useful improvements in liners for bathing vessels, washbowls and like utensils and the invention has furl ther reference to themethod or process for producing said liners.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a new article andmethod intended to minimize the spreading of infectious or communicablediseases, especially in public bath houses, hotels, sanitariums andother places in which it is vitally important to protect the health ofpatrons.

The invention further comprehends the provision of a liner for vesselswhose finish may be affected by water having a strong' salt contenttherefore leaving a noticeable stain thereon. 'I'he liner thus servesthe dual purpose of either protecting the vessel from becoming stainedor will conceal such stains as well as affording a sanitary medium forusers of the tub or vessel.

Yet another object of the invention, in addition to its utilitarianfeatures described, is to provide a medium for advertising by printingor otherwise afxing to the liner the names of the advertisers and thecharacter of the goods sold by them. This means of advertising would notbe objectionable or annoying to the users of the f" liners in View ofthe usefulness of the liner in afg" fording them comfort and assurancethat a sani'- tary condition exists.

The invention aims to provide further, a method for making the linerswhich is novel in the respect that the liners may be quickly andefciently made to conform to the shape of the vessel in which they areto be used and may be nested for convenience in shipping and storage.The method likewise involves the step of folding the liners if this stepis found to be more economical and practicable for reducing the linersto a more compact form for shipping.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has furtherreference to the novel steps in the method of producing the liners andin the salient features of the article so produced and which will befully described as the description continues, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a built-in type of bath tub, showingone of the liners arranged therein for use.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the preferred form of liner and whoseshape conforms with the shape of the inside of' the vessel in which itis to be arranged.

Figure 3 illustrates one step in the method of producing'the liner shownin Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse section through Figure 3, showing the form forproducing the article shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view showing a modied step with means for holding thematerial on the form preparatory to shaping by means of a conformingmold.

Figure 6 is a further modified form of the inven- 65 tion in which theliners are produced by making a series of folds in a piece of blankedmaterial, and

Figure 7 shows a completed liner produced through the folding methodshown in Figure 6.

Continuing with a more detailed explanation of the drawing, 1 designatesa conventional bathing vessel or bath tub.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the invention iscomprised of the blank 75 2, which is preferably a single sheet ofwaterproofed paper, the waterproofing being Wax such as paraffin or thelike, and which sheet is formed to produce the article shaped as shownin Figure 2 by placing a series of folds 3 in either end 80 thereof.

The sheet of material is placed over a form 4, shown in transversesection in Figure 4, which has flanges 5 about its edges. Moulding bars6 are provided to lie against thc edges of the sheets 2, interposedbetween the flanges 5 and the moulding 6. Spring clips 7 or othersuitable securing means are lprovided to hold the moulding 6 in placeduring the sten of folding the material as at 3 in Figures 2 and 3.

In order to press the radiating folds 3 tightly against the form 4, ashaper 8 is provided which conforms with the curves of the vessel orform 4 and its rim 5. This shaper is preferably constructed of somecharacter of transparent mate- 95 rial in order that the folds 3 may beviewed therethrough.

In performing the steps of the method identified in Figures 1 to 4inclusive, the sheet of waxed or other waterproofed material 2 is placedon the 100 form 4, and secured against displacement by afxing themoulding 6 to the anges 5 by means of clips 7 to interpose the sideedges of the sheet 2. The extended ends of the sheet 2 are folded as at3 so as to conform to the form 4 and as each fold '105 is made, theShaper 8 is moved thereover to firmly crease the material. After thisoperation, a hot mit iron or the like is moved over the creases or folds3 to fuse the wax coating of the sheet and 'bind the overlapping foldstogether, after which 110 the edges of'the sheet are made unform bytrimming.

A modifiedv step is to place a sheet of material 9 over a mold 10 asshown in Figure 5. One or more straps is passed thereover and to eachend of this strap is aixed a spring 12, having a hook 13 connectedthereto. The hooks 13 are drawn down against the resistance of thesprings 12 and hooked under the edges of the mold 10, as in Figures 5and 6. This means insures against displacement of the paper blank 9.

The next step is to fold the material at either end of the blank asexemplified in Figure 2 in order to shape the blank to conform with thetub 1. When this done. the female mold 14, shown suspended above themold 10 in Figure 5 is lowered to press the material and tightly creasethe folds therein. Afterwards, the mold 14 is raised and the folds aresubjected to a smoothing action, such as with a hot mit or iron ofsuiiicient temperature to fuse the wax coating on the material andeifect adhesion of the overlapped portions or folds as in the precedingcase. This operation will obviously prevent the folds from separatingand will hold the liner in shape during shipment, in storage and use.

The irregular edges of the form are cut off smoothly as before and whenplaced in the vessel, these edges are turned outward to lie against theedges of the vessel as shown in Figure 1. By so doing, the liner isprevented from becoming displaced in the tub.

To drain the tub after the bath is completed, it is necessary only topunch out the material covering the drain and experiments have shownthat there is little likelihood that any paper will become loosened andcatch in the drain pipes.

The further modified form of liner shown in Figures 6 and 7 issubstantially the same as the liners just described except that insteadof a multiplicity of radial folds, the blank material 15 is folded onlines a to produce the shape shown in Figure 7. The inclined end at 16is produced by the folded flaps 17 which results in a form in whichabsolute conformation to the walls of the tub is brought about byfilling with water, the weight of which will press the paper formagainst the sides, ends and bottom of the vessel and the result Will beabout as satisfactory as the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 to4 inclusive.

It will be understood that the folds in the latter design are secured inthe same manner as described in the foregoing, although some characterof Waterproof adhesive may be employed for this purpose in lieu of waxor parafiin subjected to the action of heat.

summarily, the slightly modified forms of the invention havesubstantially equal advantages, all being applicable for the purposesspecified except that the latter structure may be folded flat forshipment and may, if found practicable, be dispensed from a suitablevending apparatus at health resorts and the like..

It is understood that since the invention seeks to provide, broadly, aremovable liner for bath tubs, or like vessels, it is within the objectsthereof to produce a film of such shape as to conform to the shape ofthe vessel. Such a film may be produced by spraying a. membraneoussubstance onto a form from which it may be removed after hardening andplaced in a vessel whose inner surface corresponds to the shape of theform or mold on which the `article is produced. The liquid compositionabove mentioned may be of well known manufacture, such -for example, ascellophane in a uid state.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of some modification andsuch modification as is considered within the scope and meaning of theappended claims is also considered within the spirit and intent of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

'Ihe herein described method of producing replaceable liners for bathtubs which consists initially in blanking out a rectangular sheet of Waxcoated material and in securing the same to a mold corresponding inshape to that of the interior of said bath tub, in making initial foldsin the corners of said sheet at one end and across the opposite end, incausing a female mold to be plying heat to the folded portions of saidblank to fuse said wax coating to effect adhesion of the overlappedportions of' the sheet.

JAMES B. HERNDON, JR. -DAVID HOPE.

CARL W. STEEN.

